Very Computer

Hi everyone:

I'm writing some maintenance scripts, and would like to know how to
remove entries in /etc/shadow and /etc/passwd through a program or
system call.  

Thanks for any info

Suresh

Hello,

Quote:>I'm writing some maintenance scripts, and would like to know how to
>remove entries in /etc/shadow and /etc/passwd through a program or
>system call.  

Try /usr/ucb/vipw. That'll work fine.

Quote:>Thanks for any info

You're welcome.
Stefan.
--
#####################################################################
#  Stefan Kelm       Life's a piece of shit - when you look at it ! #

#####################################################################

Try this:
ed - /etc/passwd <<EOF
H
/^${1}:/d       #where ${1} is a login ID...
w
q
EOF

Works for us (gotta be root, of course).
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: Hi everyone:

: I'm writing some maintenance scripts, and would like to know how to
: remove entries in /etc/shadow and /etc/passwd through a program or
: system call.  

Check out the commands "passmgmt", "useradd", "userdel", "usermod",
"groupadd", "groupdel" and "groupmod".  The last three actually work on the
/etc/group file but are included for completeness.  Also check out the
"passwd" command for options to check and set password aging.

Bob

Why not using userdel(1M)?

Wolfgang

        "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." (Doug Gwyn)

: > Hi everyone:
: >
: > I'm writing some maintenance scripts, and would like to know how to
: > remove entries in /etc/shadow and /etc/passwd through a program or
: > system call.
: >
: > Thanks for any info
: >
: > Suresh

: >
: Try this:
: ed - /etc/passwd <<EOF
: H
: /^${1}:/d       #where ${1} is a login ID...
: w
: q
: EOF

: Works for us (gotta be root, of course).

This is not recommended since there are no locks on the passwd/shadow to
keep other users from making changes while you work on the file.  When you
save the edit buffer the changes (generally passwords) would either be
overwritten (if you are not using the shadow file) or the passwd and
shadow files will be out of sync, also causing problems.

Also your method only manages the /etc/passwd file.  Perhaps you have
other scripts for /etc/shadow?  In any case, there are commands, mentioned
in my previous post responding to Suresh's original question, that do the
job better (passmgmt, useradd, userdel, usermod).

Bob